[Long-term review on posterior colporrhaphy with levator ani muscles plication and incorporating a Vypro II mesh].

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic organ prolapse affect 50% of parous women over 50 years of age. The lifetime risk of undergoing a single operation for prolapse or incontinence by age 80 is 11.1%. Recurrence rates for classical prolapse surgery are as high as 30%. For this reason various graft materials have been proposed to improve the long-term surgical outcomes. The aim of our study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of posterior colporrhaphy incorporating Vypro II (polyglactin 910-polypropylene) mesh in the treatment of posterior vaginal wall prolapse.

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

SETTING: Gynaecological and Obstetric Clinic, First Medical Faculty of Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague.

METHODS: Standard posterior colporrhaphy was performed with levator ani muscles plication. Vypro II (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) is a type III macroporous mixed fibre lightweight mesh composed of 50% absorbable multifilamentous polyglactin 910 and of 50% non-absorbable multifilamentous polypropylene fibres. This operation was performed in 28 women between March 2003 and November 2005. All patients underwent before surgery, urodynamics, ultrasound and physical examination. 22 women (78.5%) had a previous hysterectomy, 16 women (57%) had previous pelvic surgery for prolapse and/or urinary incontinence. Concomitant surgeries performed included vaginal hysterectomy 7% (n = 2), anterior colporrhaphy 50% (n = 14), anterior colporrhaphy with Vypro II mesh 21.4% (n = 6), TVT 7% (n = 2), TVT O 7% (n = 2), sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension 32% (n = 9). The pelvic organ prolapse was staged in ICS POP-Q system. All women had stage II-IV symptomatic prolapse of the posterior compartment (11 patients 39.2% with stage II, 14 patients 50% with stage III and 3 patients 10.7% with stage IV). All patients were examined always in case of complications and were invited to follow-up 2 months after surgery and once a year. The mean follow-up was 26.2 months (range 2-58), whereas 71% of patients had a follow up longer then 24 months.

RESULTS: Patients mean age was 63.7 years (range 46-83), mean parity 2.1 (1-3) and mean BMI 30.34 kg/m2 (25-42). There were no operative or early postoperative complications like bowel erosion or rectovaginal fistula. The incidence of rectocele recurrence was 10.7%: 1 case of stage II rectocele and 2 cases of stage III rectocele. The incidence of mesh vaginal erosion was 10.7%. Two cases were resolved by repeated excision in office and by local estrogen and local antimicrobial therapy. The third case required reoperation and mesh exstirpation.

CONCLUSION: Posterior colporrhaphy with levator ani muscles plication and incorporating a Vypro II mesh was associated with a higher incidence of post-operative complications even if cure rate was quite good.